Giugliano gets maiden Superpole win as Sykes crashes out

The 23 year old, Davide Giugliano, from Rome managed to time in 1'34.676 lap-time to secure first place ahead of Chaz Davies.

Moscow (Russia) - Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing Aprilia) scored his first ever Tissot-Superpole win today at Moscow Raceway. The 23 year old from Rome managed to time in 1'34.676 lap-time to secure first place ahead of Chaz Davies (BMW Motorrad GoldBet), as the Welshman achieved his best ever grid positioning in WSBK, too.

The biggest surprise in today's Tissot-Superpole was the crash suffered by Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) in the third session, at Turn 3, that put an end to his pole position streak after six consecutive wins and will force the Brit to move off from an unusual 9th place. The first row for tomorrow's two races is completed by Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team), who repeated himself on the same slot as last year's Russian Round.

Despite being the first rider unable to lap in the 1'34 seconds bracket, Jonathan Rea (Pata Honda World Superbike) ended up 4th, ahead of Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad GoldBet) and Carlos Checa (Team Ducati Alstare) – with the Spaniard who proved to be "alive and kicking" after the big crash in the morning's Qualifying 2.

The indomitable Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team), still dealing with a dislocated right collarbone, did his best to obtain an impressive 8th place, behind fellow Frenchman Jules Cluzel (FIXI Crescent Suzuki).

Davide Giugliano: “This Tissot-Superpole is a great result for me and the team, who made this success possible by setting-up a very competitive bike: we can stand a chance with the official teams and also be up front, as today. Hope to do the same tomorrow, even though we are aware that the races will be two hard ones and also Sykes, despite his crash today, will take part in the battle. Moreover, weather conditions seem not to be that good, but we’ll do our best as ever.”

Chaz Davies: “I am very happy, the result confirms the steps that we have taken all weekend have been right. We made some changes that have really helped. I felt that I did not make the best lap, I lost a couple of tenths here and there, maybe enough to keep me off from pole but to get there you have to put it all together and I did not. But still I am very satisfied with the front row and am looking forward to the races. I think it is going to be a battle tomorrow, it is going to be close off the line and whoever has the pace will stay at the front.”